The No. 1 South Carolina women色中色视频檚 basketball team clinched its third-ever national title in an 87-75 victory over No. 1 seed Iowa Sunday afternoon at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Three hallmarks of South Carolina色中色视频檚 game 色中色视频� defense, dominance on the glass and depth 色中色视频� have led it to success throughout the season and have helped the team to earn the win and complete the program's undefeated season.
色中色视频淚t色中色视频檚 been a long journey. We色中色视频檝e trusted each other so much over the season. We have so much confidence with each other, so much love 色中色视频� throughout this whole program, throughout this whole team,色中色视频� senior guard Te-Hina Paopao said. 色中色视频淭o cap it off with a perfect season is just a blessing.色中色视频�
The opening three minutes of the game were vastly different for both teams. While Iowa色中色视频檚 offense was surging, South Carolina色中色视频檚 was struggling. The Hawkeyes jumped out to an early 10-0 lead by the two-and-a-half minute mark, and the 色中色视频s started 0-6 from the field before senior center Kamilla Cardoso made a layup to break the team色中色视频檚 scoring drought.
The shooting disparity between the two teams continued as the quarter went along, as Iowa was 6-9 on field goals (compared to South Carolina色中色视频檚 4-14 mark) leading into the game色中色视频檚 first media timeout.
The timeout came at a good time for the 色中色视频s, though. South Carolina went on a 7-0 scoring run after the break and cut the Hawkeyes色中色视频� lead to 7 points by the end of the period. Senior guard Caitlin Clark played a pivotal role in helping Iowa build on its early lead, finishing the quarter with 18 points on 5-8 shooting and breaking the NCAA Tournament色中色视频檚 all-time scoring record in the process.
Clarks色中色视频� impact on the rest of the game was diminished by the 色中色视频s色中色视频� stout defense, specifically that of sophomore guard Raven Johnson.
Clark scored only 12 points after the first quarter and was held to just 3 points on 1-6 shooting in the second. Head coach Dawn Staley said Johnson色中色视频檚 performance was 色中色视频減sychologically helpful色中色视频� after last year色中色视频檚 elimination from the Final Four at the hands of Iowa.
色中色视频淎s a player, you want to release certain things that have held you captive. And I do think the waving off in the Final Four last year held her captive,色中色视频� Staley said. 色中色视频淩aven色中色视频檚 got the bullhorn saying, 色中色视频楾his is a revenge tour色中色视频� 色中色视频� and then for her to actually lock in and play Caitlin the way we needed her to play her 色中色视频� I think it色中色视频檚 pretty cool that she was able to check off a goal and move forward.色中色视频�
The Hawkeyes as a whole were limited to just 19 points in the second quarter, while South Carolina色中色视频檚 rebounding ability on both sides of the court allowed it to generate scoring opportunities. By halftime, the 色中色视频s out-rebounded the Hawkeyes 38-24 and had 10 more made field goals and field goal attempts than the Hawkeyes.
South Carolina finished the game with a 51-29 advantage in rebounds and a 48-32 advantage in points scored in the paint. Cardoso contributed an additional 17 rebounds, along with 15 points, on her way to being named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player.
Cardoso said her teammates色中色视频� court vision was pivotal in helping the 色中色视频s establish a strong presence in the paint.
色中色视频淚 think just trying to get the post-ups and my teammates finding me and giving me the ball, even though I didn't shoot really good tonight,色中色视频� Cardoso said. 色中色视频淲e just move the ball really good, and they were able to find me while I was open.色中色视频�
Those extra scoring opportunities helped the 色中色视频s score 29 points in the second quarter. Cardoso and freshman guard Tessa Johnson led those offensive efforts with 7 points each, and Paopao contributed an additional 6.
Tessa Johnson色中色视频檚 scoring contributions carried over to the third quarter, where she nailed two 3-point shots. She would finish the game with a team-high 19 points off the bench and was named to the All-Tournament Team alongside Cardoso.
色中色视频淪he色中色视频檚 trusted her process here, she色中色视频檚 trusted her journey, and for her to do that on such a big stage, I色中色视频檓 so proud of her,色中色视频� Paopao said. 色中色视频淗er confidence has grown so much, and I色中色视频檓 just really excited for her future.色中色视频�
Tessa Johnson was not South Carolina色中色视频檚 lone contributor off the bench, as she, sophomore forward Ashlyn Watkins, freshman guard MiLaysia Fulwiley and junior forward Sania Feagin combined to score 37 bench points. Iowa, on the other hand, scored 0.
Paopao said the 色中色视频s色中色视频� bench players have been a 色中色视频渄ifference maker色中色视频� throughout the season.
色中色视频淲e色中色视频檝e depended on them so much 色中色视频� and they色中色视频檝e done so much for this team,色中色视频� Paopao said. 色中色视频淎 lot of people sleep on them, but they can start on any team in this country. But they decided to sacrifice that and play for this team and win a national championship, which we did today.色中色视频�
After describing South Carolina色中色视频檚 NCAA Tournament run as a 色中色视频渞evenge tour,色中色视频� Raven Johnson said the program色中色视频檚 success will continue in the years to come.
色中色视频淲e have the best coach, what 色中色视频� in the country, in the nation, in the whole wide world? There色中色视频檚 no telling what she色中色视频檚 going to add to the pieces that's already here,色中色视频� Raven Johnson said. 色中色视频淏e on the lookout.色中色视频�